Gb Chromatic scale
All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- Gb Chromatic scale
- Family
- Symmetric scales
- Note count
- 12
- Step formula
- H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1
Notes & degrees
1Gbroot
b2Gminor 2nd
2Abmajor 2nd
b3Aminor 3rd
3Bbmajor 3rd
4Cbperfect 4th
b5Cdim 5th
5Dbperfect 5th
b6Dminor 6th
6Ebmajor 6th
b7Fbminor 7th
7Fmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.
- Application in music
- Has no key of its own. Used for chromatic passing and neighbor tones.
- Interval formula
- GbHGHAbHAHBbHCbHCHDbHDHEbHFbHF
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IGbnominal centretonic
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIBbBb
IVCbCb
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGbGb
IIAbAb
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how Gb Chromatic scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.